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Japanese Space Agencies

Japanese space development has mainly been promoted by the three space organizations, namely the Institute of Space and Astronautical Science (ISAS), the National Aerospace Laboratory (NAL) and NASDA. ISAS, which is an affiliated national institute of the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT), has promoted research on space science. NAL, which is an independent administrative institution supervised by MEXT, has pursued research on aircraft, rockets and other aeronautical transportation systems. NASDA has conducted space development under the supervision of MEXT, the Ministry of Public Management, Home Affairs, Posts and Telecommunications and the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport.

On 21 August 2001, MEXT announced a plan to merge ISAS, NAL and NASDA. Japan is presently laying the groundwork to merge those organizations, which constitute the mainstay of Japan’s space development efforts, and the bill for merger was submitted to the current session of the Diet (an extraordinary session).

The new Japanese Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), known in Japanese as Uchu kohkuh kenkyu kaihatsu kikou (Space-Aviation Research and Development Organization) was formed on 01 October 2003 with the merger of three existing agencies. The early Japanese sounding rocket and satellite program was conducted by a group at the University of Tokyo which in 1964 became the Institute of Space and Aeronautical Sciences [ISAS]. In 1981 ISAS separated from the university and was renamed the Institute of Space and Astronautical Science [Uchu kagaku kenkyujo - Space Science Research Institute). Applications programs were developed by the National Space Development Agency [ Uchu kaihatsu jigyodan - Space Development Agency). NASDA grew out of the Science and Technology Agency [STA]. Founded in 1964 as the National Space Development Center [NSDC], it was renamed in 1969. The National Aerospace Laboratory [Kohkuh uchu gijutsu kenkyujo - Aviation Space Engineering Institute) participated in spaceplane development.

For many years Japan was unique among the Eurasian space nations with two, relatively independent national space organizations: one for applications and one for science. Both not only funded and managed satellite programs but also developed families of launch vehicles and maintained separate launch facilities to place the satellites in orbit. The government structure was further complicated by the various ministries and agencies which support these organizations. The Space Activities Commission (SAC) annually reviews Japan's Space Development Program to coordinate national space activities and to draft departmental budgets. The chairman of SAC is the Minister of State for Science and Technology. Since the first launch of a Japanese satellite in 1970, the country has become a major spacepower, perhaps surpassed in all Europe and Asia by only the Russian Federation and the multi-national ESA (References 50-51).

The National Space Development Agency of Japan (NASDA) currently receives about 75% of the national space budget primarily via the Science and Technology Agency of the Prime Minister's Office, the Ministry of Transport, and the Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications. NASDA, with a workforce of nearly 1,000 personnel, is responsible for the development of Japanese communications, meteorological, and Earth observation satellites as well as the large H-class launch vehicles. NASDA also oversees Japan's participation in the International Space Station and is behind the proposed HOPE spaceplane. The President of NASDA since 1990, Masato Yamano, supervises five major technical offices: Space Utilization, Space Transportation, Satellites, Earth Observation, and Research and Development. NASDA operates several large space centers including the Tanegashima Space Center for space launches, the Kakuda Propulsion Center for the development of launch vehicle propulsion systems, the Tsukuba Space Center for satellite tracking and control, and the Earth Observation Center for data processing of remote sensing information (Reference 52).

Working under the Ministry of Education, the Institute of Space and Aeronautical Science(ISAS) is devoted to space science research and the development of satellite and launch vehicle, e.g., M-3SII, technologies needed to support this objective. Until 1981 ISAS was a part of the University of Tokyo. The Director General of ISAS, Ryojiro Akiba (since February, 1992), heads 11 technical divisions with 300 staff and 100 graduate students and is advised by a Board of counselors and an Advisory Council for Research and Management. ISAS' primary facilities include the Kagoshima Space Center for space launches, the Noshiro Testing Center for launch vehicle propulsion system development, and the Usuda Deep Space Center with a 64-m diameter antenna for satellite tracking and control (References 53-56).

In 1963 Japan's National Aeronautical Laboratory was reorganized into the National Aerospace Laboratory (NAL) with the incorporation of a space division. As its name implies, the NAL conducts research with a wide range of atmospheric and space systems with an emphasis on airframe and propulsion technologies. As a subordinate organization to the Science and Technology Agency, NAL often supports NASDA programs, e.g., in the development of the LE-5 and LE-7 main engines for the H-II launch vehicle. The Director General of NAL is Kazuaki Takashima with responsibility for 450 staff (75% involved in research) in numerous divisions and groups.The Space Technology Research Group is further divided into 13 subgroups covering all major space technologies. From headquarters in Tokyo, NAL operates the Kakuda Research Center, associated with NASDA's Kakuda Propulsion Center (References 57-59).

Japan benefits from a strong interest in space activities by the giants of industry. Moreover, these firms invest considerable private resources to conceive long-term projects which may not be realized for a decade or more. Mitsubishi Heavy Industries and Nissan Motor Company are the major launch vehicle manufacturers for NASDA and ISAS, respectively. Mitsubishi Electric Corporation, Nippon Electric Corporation, and Toshiba Corporation all have credentials as satellite prime contractors. Fuji Heavy Industries Ltd. and IHI Company Ltd. both support development of reusable space transportation systems and the Japanese Experiment Module for the International Space Station. Sumitomo Heavy Industries is well known for launch vehicle support facilities, and Shimizu Corporation is leading industry in the design of long-range facilities, including outposts on the Moon and Mars.

By 1994, the Japanese government was investing in excess of $2.5 billion annually, and, as space budgets in the West decline, Japanese expenditures continue to experience real growth. The total space budget increased nearly 15% between 1992 and 1994, reaching almost 230 billion Yen. During this same period, NASDA's budget increased 17% to 164 billion Yen, but ISAS's budget increased only 3% to 21 billion Yen. Of the record 12 billion Yen allocated to NAL during 1994, 4.5 billion Yen constituted the space budget.

On 09 November 2016 Japan's Diet passed legislation to allow private-sector businesses to launch satellites. The legislation is one of 2 space-related bills approved by the Upper House. It will allow private firms to launch satellites if they meet government criteria and clear prior screening. At present, only the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency and agency-commissioned Mitsubishi Heavy Industries were licensed to launch satellites. Private firms entering the satellite launch business will be required to have damage insurance to cover possible launch failures. If the damage surpasses the amount covered by the insurance, the government will shoulder part of the compensation.

The other law stipulated that the government will prohibit the sale and distribution of high-resolution images taken by satellites run by private firms, to protect them for security purposes if necessary.

The Japanese government intends to create a military space unit of the country's Self-Defence Forces in 2020 in connection with the increased use of space for defense purposes by other countries, including the United States, Russia and China, the Yomiuri Shimbun newspaper reported on 06 August 2019. According to the newspaper, it is expected that a new 70-strong unit will be stationed at an airbase in the city of Fuchu west of Tokyo. The plan for its creation was drafted in December 2018.

The Japanese government was currently working on a ground-based space tracking system comprising a highly sensitive radar and an optical telescope, its operation is expected from 2023, the publication said. The main task of the unit will be to monitor space debris, threats of attacks or interference by other countries' satellites.

Since the Japanese Self-Defence Forces did not have such experience, the unit's employees will be sent for training to the US Armed Forces and to Japanese aerospace agency JAXA. Initially, Japanese authorities planned to set up a military space unit in 2022, but it was decided to speed up the work. According to the publication, Washington plans to create its own space forces by 2020, that is, almost simultaneously with Japan, and Tokyo sees great opportunities for space cooperation with the United States.

In April 2019, at the 2+2 format talks between the United States and Japan in Washington, an agreement was reached to equip the Japanese Quasi Zenith Satellite System (QZSS), which is planned for launch in 2023, with a space tracking sensor from the US Defence Department. QZSS is a Japanese satellite positioning system composed mainly of satellites in quasi-zenith orbits (QZO). QZSS (Michibiki) has been operated as a four-satellite constellation from November 2018, and three satellites are visible at all times from locations in the Asia-Oceania region.

References

• 50. S. Saito, "Japan's Space Policy", Space Policy, August 1989, pp. 193-200.
• 51. S. Kurachi, "Update on Japan's Space Policy", Space Policy, May 1991, pp. 95-102.
• 52. NASDA. National Space Development Agency of Japan, NASDA, 1994.
• 53. M. Oda and Y. Tanaka, "Japan's Blossoming Space Science", Sky and Telescope, January 1987, pp. 7-11.
• 54. "Newsmaker Forums", Space News, 27 July-9 August 1992, p. 30.
• 55. N. W. Davis, "Japan's ISAS Pursues 'Independent' Agenda", Aerospace America, July 1993, pp. 13-15.
• 56. The Institute of Space and Astronautical Science, 1993, Ministry of Education, Science, and Culture, 1993.
• 57. NAL 1993-1994, NAL, 1994.
• 58. NAL Research Progress 1993, NAL, 1994. 59. NAL Research Progress 1994, NAL, 1995.
• Adapted from: Europe and Asia in Space 1993-1994, Nicholas Johnson and David Rodvold [Kaman Sciences / Air Force Phillips Laboratory]